The man accused of running over a New Britain police officer plead guilty to assault charge

NEW BRITAIN — A man accused of running over and seriously injuring a city police officer in January 2014 pleaded guilty on Thursday to an assault charge.

Jaheem Snype, 20, of New Britain, also pleaded guilty to a single count of second-degree arson, according to the court clerk's office. Snype was charged in late January of last year after running over Officer Brett Morgan, 28, with a car and dragging him about 100 feet.

Under the agreement to plead guilty, Snype will be sentenced 20 years in prison, followed by five years of special parole, according to his attorney, Matthew J. Gaidos. His sentencing will take place in March.

On the evening of Jan. 19, Morgan pulled over a Hyundai Sonata outside 56 Wilcox St. after it had been reported stolen about 30 minutes earlier, according to an arrest warrant. Morgan radioed headquarters at 10:34 p.m., and backup officers found him about a minute later in the street, badly injured with blood coming from his head, the warrant says. He was about 100 feet away from his Taser and gun.

Snype told police that he had rented the Hyundai in exchange for crack cocaine and that he believed the car's owner reported it stolen because he had given the owner soap instead of the drugs, according to the warrant.

Snype told police he had parked in a lot after he saw a police officer on Tremont Street. When he saw the officer's car pull up and the officer get out with a gun in his hand, he decided to have the officer chase him, according to the warrant.

Snype struck and dragged the officer as he accelerated and attempted to escape, the warrant says.

Snype was later accused of setting the car on fire.

Snype was arrested Jan. 22 about 15 miles south of the Canadian border in Barton, Vt., after a massive manhunt, according to police. He waived his right to extradition and was taken into the custody of Connecticut authorities.

Snype's half-brother, Frankie Gonzalez, who was arrested along with Snype in Vermont.